Pronunciation/Translation: Ben Vorlich - byn vorlick (hill of the bay), Stuc a' Chroin - stook a kroin (peak of danger)
I guess you could say I did more walking than usual last May. Starting off the month with a heavy pack on the West Highland Way, ending with our trip to the Black Cuillins on Skye. In between those two adventures was Beinn Narnain, Ben Vorlich and Stuc a' Chroin. Adding to the mix was loads of local walking with Alfie up around the Glennifer Braes and of course rounds of the park by the house thrice daily!...
...so yeah, my thighs and calves were feeling in good shape. Alfie was reaping the benefits also, his shoulders and hind quarters were really beginning to show great muscle definition.
Tuesday 25th May meant a group walk with the GWHC (Glasgow Walking and Hillwalking Club). The weather was superb for this meet, which was starting from the southern shore of Loch Earn. I decided to drive up along the west of Loch Lomond via Crianlarich, eyes peeled for my nearside wheelarch which had managed to detach from my car at roadworks here two days prior. I had optimistically imagined that someone would find it and rest it against a wall or roadsign, like kind people do with lost gloves all the time. Needless to say the car-parts were never to be seen again.
In total we had twenty humans and one dog doing this Munro today, I say Munro singular, because at this stage it was only in our plans to do Ben Vorlich. Everyone greeted and kitted out, we made our way up the farm road to Ardvorlich House. Alfie was weaving his way among the group, receiving lots of attention and maybe even a biscuit here and there.
The route begins properly at the gate behind the house. A track leads the way up onto the lower grazing slopes past some out-buildings and into Glen Vorlich. Navigation wise this mountain is very simple. The track is clear and runs due south along the western side of the Ardvorlich Burn, rising steadily towards the ridge that takes you to the summit.
Once over the bridge at the Alt a' Choir Bhuidhe tributary the going begins to get much steeper, and at this point the group began to get quite stretched out. We take the opportunity to stop at each false summit to let everyone bunch up again.
I don't really have much option but to stay up at the head of the group, as Alfie is on a mission to set the pace. We are accompanied by Gary and Ross, and keep in radio contact with Barry who is motivating the back-markers.
Sun still beating down on us we all happily make it to the true summit. While we are all sitting enjoying lunch, we can't help but notice how enticing Stuc a' Chroin is looking over to the southwest. It seems that half of us are up for heading across to climb it, the rest agree that they will sit it out in the sun and watch packs for those who want to travel light.
I'm one for keeping my pack on my back no matter what. It always seems to me that the times you're going to need it most will be sometime when you least expect it.
And so we march down the rocky path towards the bealach between the two Munros. The descent was fairly steep, but what lies ahead on the ascent of Stuc a' Chroin is far steeper.
We scramble over the Creag Chasain to the foot of the northeastern rockface. Here the path diminishes and ascending to the summit involves a tricky traverse south onto a steep gully which slowly leads us up onto the ridge. A short but rocky walk up onto the twin summits is then required.
All ten eventually manage onto our second summit of the day. We wave across in the direction of the rest of our group on Ben Vorlich, but can't really pick out any detail. It was a far longer distance than we had imagined when looking across from there.
Not wanting to keep our companions waiting, we quickly head back along our route. The gully we had climbed seemed even more precarious on the way down. Even Alfie was clearly taking his time and choosing his footing (pawing) very carefully.
At the bealach once again I decided to carry on up to Ben Vorlich with Alfie at full pace. He still had lots of energy, and I wanted some of it depleted before we made our way down the long trail to the start/finish. We got back up to the first summit, The others were pleased to see us as the sun had started hiding behind some clouds. With everyone back together we all began our steady descent along the ridge and down to the valley.
Alfie's energy had still to dissipate, and again we found ourselves mostly at the front racing down to where the cars were parked along the Loch shore. While waiting for everyone to get back Alfie decided it would be fun to chase some Mallard ducks who were teasing him just offshore, and Ross managed to capture this great photo of him skirting over the water in retreat.
